Following CHAI's "Expanding the Circle of Compassion"
conference, the pilot educational project began in schools in several cities
in the north, with over 640 students participating.These photos are a selection from the
many classes that have been using our program.

All photos: Avi Hirschfield

Shfar'am—El Basalia
Elementary School

Some of these
photos show students drawing concentric "circles of compassion" and filling in the
circles with the names of those (human and animal) they care most about,
less about, and those they consider to be outside their circle of
compassion. Then the students answer questions designed to promote critical
thinking about how they treat others and how they would like to be treated
by others.

Students in the program learn that both humans and animals
have emotions and intelligence and that everyone deserves to be treated with
respect and compassion. They discuss their responsibilities toward
themselves and toward others. The program helps children understand that all
living beings want to live in habitat that is natural to them, in the family
or social group of their choosing, with the freedom to live as nature
intended, and to experience their natural abilities, whether to walk, run,
fly, or swim. One student said he used to think animals were stupid and
dirty and he was afraid of them, but now he understands that they are like
us and that in some ways, animals actually have greater intelligence than
humans.

Teachers participating in the program reported that the
children were excited and engaged in the classes. The principal of a
participating school commented about being really happy about this program
because it teaches the exact values the school aims to instill in children –
respect for others who are different from us, responsibility, empathy,
critical thinking, and empowerment.

One of the many benefits of humane education is that it
helps teachers identify at-risk children – those who need help because they
are being abused or neglected and who may now or in the future commit
violence out of rage at their own lack of power. When one teacher asked
whether we should be responsible for animals and have compassion for them, a
student told her he didn’t feel compassion for animals, for humans, and not
even for himself because no one cared about him. The teacher learned that
neither parent was in his life, and acted immediately to get him help.

The photographer who took these photos noted that "Many
students raised their hands to answer the teacher’s questions or ask
questions. When students were drawing their circles of compassion, there was
a big HUM of excitement. It was clear that they really enjoyed this activity
and the class in general.

Druze religious expert Sheikh Ridan Alman from Kisra spoke
to students of the Marashan elementary school about what the Druze religion
says about how humans are to treat animals. Treating animals well improves
the way humans treat one another, he told students. Both humans and
non-humans deserve mercy and those lacking in compassion are heartless. He
related a story from Druze folklore about a religious woman who, time after
time, denied help to a hungry cat who begged for mercy and care. Eventually,
the woman herself died in a harsh manner, as punishment. The Prophet
instructed a person who stole puppies from their mother and another person
who stole birds from their mother to return them.

Animals feel physical and emotional pain, Mr. Alman told
students, especially when their young are taken from them. When camels are
in pain, they cry real tears. The Druze religion requires that humans feed
and look after animals in their care. If they can no longer do so, they must
give or sell them to a person who can properly care for them. Animals must
not be taken advantage of or forced to work beyond their limits. Animal
fights and betting on animal fights are prohibited. Harming an animal is
prohibited unless in self-defense. Mr. Alman spoke about the contribution of
one particular species, bees, to the ecosystem. He explained the importance
of bees in pollinating plants and flowers.